Rotary drilling rig



May 6*h 1941- J. A. DUNN 2,240,738

I ROTARY DRILLING RIG Fimd July 14,' sheds-sheet i May 6, 194k J. A. DUNN l2,240,738

Ronny Dalmau@ me enea July 14, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 6; 1941 UNITED STATE ROTARY DRILLING RIG Joseph Alexander Dunn, signor to The National Supply Company,

Los Angeles, Calif., as- Pittsburgh, If'a., a corporation' of Pennsylvania Application July 14, 1937, Serial No. 153,554

(Cl. Z55-423) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to drilling apparatus of the type employed in drilling oil, gas or water wells, or other holes in the earths surface, and is particularly adaptable for use in the drilling of test holes as drilled in geophysical prospecting.A

An object of this invention is to provide an improved4 form of drilling structure for the rotation of the drill string or pipe.

Another object of this invention is to provide drilling apparatus particularly applicable for the drilling of test holes as utilized in geophysical prospecting, which structure is of a portable character and includes a means for the automatic coupling or locking of a kelly in positive driving engagement with a drill stem.

Another object of this invention is to provide a. drilling apparatus including a means providing an automatic connection between a swivel and a kelly and which means is capable of effecting the automatic coupling between the swivel and the kelly with the swivel moved to its highest operative position.

Another object`A of this invention is to provide an improved drill string drive connection which provides a stroke equal in length to the drill pipe sections and which is adaptable to use by an operator vstandingat or near the ground level without requiring an operator to climb the derrick in order that a section of the pipe may be added to the drill string.

Other objects `and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanylng drawings.

In the drawings: i

Figure 1 is an end elevation of'a' portable drilling apparatus embodying my invention illustrating a section of pipe about to be added to the drill string.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof and illustrating in dotted lines the position of the derrick when the apparatus is to be transported. end elevation partly in section,

Figure 3 is an of a portion of relative position the apparatus illustrating the of the swivel and kelly after la section of pipe has been added and illustrating the kelly as elevated from the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. a

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in section of a portionof the apparatus illustrated in Figure 3 illustrating the same partially in vertical section.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating the kelly as moved into,v locked engage- ,ment with the swivel.

Figure 6 is a detached detail illustration of the preferred form of automatic coupling device embodied in my invention.

In the drawings the structure embodying my invention is illustrated as mounted upon a wheeled vehicle. Supported upon the frame I is a derrick 2 which is pivoted to the frame l at 3 to permit the derrick 2 to be lowered into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2 when the apparatus is being transported. Mounted upon the frame I is a spooling drum 4 upon which the line 5 is Wound and which wire line is rove between the blocks 6 and 1 to support the swivel 8. The drill -string 9 which is composed of a plurality of pipe sections secured together' is normally supported by the swivel 8. A kelly I I is provided and the kelly I I has a. bore large enough to permit the drill stem 9 and pipe couplings I2 thereof to pass freely through the bore of the kelly II. Mounted upon the frame I is a rotary machine I3 which may be of any suitable or desirable construction as is well un-` derstood in the art and which rotary machine serves to rotate the kelly I I in the customary or any desired manner.

Secured to' the upper endk of th kelly VII is a bowl I4. Mounted upon the bowl I4 is an antifriction bearing I5. Anti-friction bearing I5 is held in position by means of a ring II threaded to the bowl I4. The bearing I5 is positioned between the bowl I4 and a yoke I1 whereby the `yoke I1 rotatably supports the kelly II. The yoke I1 is provided with arms I8 which are secured to the cables I8 to enable the yoke l1 to be raised or lowered. The cables I9 pass over pulleys 2I mounted upon stub shafts 2Il on the derrick 2. Secured to the arm I8 are chains .24, which chains 24 pass over sprockets 23. The sprockets 23 are fixed upon a drive shaft 22 so that a positive drive for the chains 24 is provided so that the yoke I1 can be either raised orlowered. The shaft 22 may be driven` from any suitable or desirable source of power and is herein illustrated as being driven through a a stationary stem 21 and a rotatable housing 28.

- The stem 21 is provided with a shoulder 23 upon which is mounted a thrust bearing 38 whereby housing 28 is rotatably `supported upon the shoulder 23. A packing means-32 is provided be-` tween the housing 28 and the stem 21 to prevent entrance of drilling mud into the bearing 38.

Means are provided at thelower end of the housing 23 in the form of `an adapter 33 to provide a rotary drive connection between the kellyA I I and the drill string 8.

Means are provided for eiIecting an automatic coupling or locking of the drive connection bepreferahly includes a pair of opposed laterally extending lugs 34 formed on the adapter 33 positioned to enter into slots 35 formed inthe bowl I4,

The outer surface 35 of the adapter 33 is tapered to cooperate with the tapered seat 31 formed within the bowl I4 ,so that when the lugs 34 reach their operative-driving position, the

kelly II and swivel I are held in vproper drivengagement in the slots 35,` the plunger 38 is in position Vto enter one of the slots 35 and thus rock the lugs u in position. YIl; will be obvious that the connection as thus provided is such that itcan only be released by the lifting of the plimger 38 out of the slot entrance.

The adapter 33 is provided with internal string 3. Preferably a sub 48 is providedA between the adapter 33 and drill string 9 so that the pipe sections are made up" or broken upon the threads of the hub 48 to relieve wear from the adapter'threads 33. The bowl I4 is provided with a shoulder 4I which -acts as alimit stop to limit the downwardtravel of the kelly lII through the rotary machine I3. With the kelly II and bowl i4 thus supported on the rotary I3, the plunger 38 can be raised, the lugs 34 backed out of the slots 35 to disengage the swivel from the kelly II. The drill string -8 is then'lifted a short distance by'means of the blocks [and 1 and slips-42 are set in atapered bore 31 to support the drill string 3. The swivel 8 is then disconnected from the drill string 3 The drill string s is then raised slightly to' permit removal of. the slips'42 whereby the total weight of the drill string is again supported by the blocks 8 and 1 and line 5 reeved thereon. As the drilling operation is again resumed, the mud pump customarily employed in such operation, but not illustrated, is started and the drilling o mud is Vpumped down'through-the swivel 8 and i tweenthekelly II anddrillstring3, which means drill string 9. The slot openings 35 in the bowl I4 are then oriented by an operator so that when the kelly II and bowl I4 are raised the lugs 34 will enter these slot.openings. The power is then started to drive the shaft 22 whereby the yoke I1 and kelly II are raised. The kelly Il israised without rotation until the lugs 34 and theswivel adapter 33 enter the slots 35 of the bowl I4, which entering position is illustrated in Figure 4. The plunger 38'will be raised in this position and will ride upon the surface 43 of the bowl I4. v

Upon starting of the rotary machine, the kelly Il :is revolved and upon being revolved, the plunger 38 drops into the slot opening 35, thereby preventing disengagement of the connection betweenv the kelly II and drill string 9. 'This engagement is etlected automatically upon the raising of the kelly II and upon starting of the rotation.

spring 44 is preferably interposed between the l plunger 38 and the body 28 of the swivel 8. Operation of the rotary machine is then continued.

' Rotation of the kelly `I I is imparted to the adaptthreads 33 for engaging and supporting the drill er 33 and swivel 8 through the lugs 34. The drill string 9 is rotated` through its threaded connection with the adapter 33. In the event that it preparatory to the adding of another section of Pipe.

swivel sub 48 by an operator while standing upon the ground or at the ground level. The swivel 8 and the new section of pipe' is then elevated to raise thenew ction of pipe over the string.

The height of the is such thata pipe" sectlon of standard length will be conveniently in the manner as thus described. 'I'he endo! thenew pipe section is then con- The operation of the improved drilling'appa- *60 section of pipe is manually connected to the is desired to add more weight to the drilling bit than is provided by the weight of the drill string 3, the yoke I1 can be used to apply a downward force through the driving of the drive shaft 22.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be. understood that I do-not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim: l

l. In a rotary drilling device for rotating a drill string, the combination of a swivel to rotatably support said drill string, a kelly having a longitudinal bore through which a portion of said drill vstring extends, said kellybeing. provided at its. upper end with a portion having a tapered seat formed therein, said swivel having a member provided at its lower end to eieet a driving connection between the drill string and the kelly, said member having a complementary tapered portion adapted' tqfregister with the tapered seat of the kelly to align the swivel and kelly.

2. In a rotary swivel of the type used in the drilling of bore-holes, the combination of a stal tionary stem ,having an annular shoulder, an anti-friction-thrust bearing on said shoulder, a

rotatable housing surrounding said stem and rotatable housing surrounding said stern and bearing, a cap member supported on said bearing and detachably secured to said housing, an adapter secured to the lower end of said housing having threads to provide a drivirig connection with` a. drill pipe, laterally extending lugs on said adapter to provide a driven connection with a kelly, and means including a spring-urged Din adapted to automatically lock the kelly to said housing upon predetermined relative movement therebetween. a v

4. In a. rotary drilling device, the combination of a drive element, a swivel adapted to support ksaid drive element, said swivel having an element operatively associated therewith and adapted to be removably secured to said drive element, cooperating means on said drive element and said swivel element adapted'to form a drive connection therebetween, said means including a lug on one of said elements adapted to enter a recess provided in the other oi.' said elements, said connection being effected automatically upon relative longitudinal and rotary movement of the two elements, a retrievable plunger on the lug-carrying element, and means to automatically project said plunger into said opening upon the connection being completed, whereby relative rotary movement of said elements is prevented.

5. In a well drilling device a rotary table, ay

carriage above said rotary table, a tubular kelly rotatablyr mounted in said ca rriage, said kelly .having a central bore adapted to receive a drill stem, said bore tapering outwardly at the upper end thereof to provide a bowl-shaped cavity, a plurality of J-slots in the walls of said cavity, a drill stem in the bore of said kelly and a sub attached to said drill stem, said sub having projections thereon engaging said J-slots whereby a rigid connection is eected between the kelly and drill stem. 6. In a well drilling device, a tubular rotary lshaft angular in cross section, a rotary table, for

driving 'said shaft, a drill rod within said shaft, J-slots in the walls of said'shaft, a sub attached to said drill rod, and means on said sub for engaging said J-slots to impart rotation to.said drill Q stem.

JOSEPH ALEXANDER DUNN. 

